...as Moslem pursues ‘thief’

A Moslem who was earnestly engaged in prayers had to literally ask Allah to wait when he suddenly leapt from his knees and chased a friend to the bewilderment of those around. Residents of Zongo Lane in Sunyani, where the incident took place, could not help laughing when Alhaji Abubakar Yusif sprang from the mat on which he was praying and gave the friend a rather hot chase.

Alhaji Yusif, also known as “Alhaji Hearts Junior,” while praying spotted Mickey Charles, a radio presenter of a local FM station who walked into his (Alhaji’s) store and picked a bottle of Malt from his refrigerator to cool off his thirst. Despite the 100-metre race, Alhaji could not catch up with the friend and had to return to continue with the prayers.

The funny spectacle took place, on Friday 22 March 2002 at about 6.00 pm when Alhaji Yusif was praying in a corner of his store. Mickey, his friend, was said to have gone there to purchase a bottle of Malt. On seeing him (Yusif) praying, he took the Malt from the refrigerator and left, hoping to come back to pay later.

Uncomfortable about the fact that Mickey did not leave the amount on the counter before leaving, Alhaji Yusif sprang from the mat on which he was praying and gave Mickey a hot chase to collect the money. Interestingly, when Mickey realised that he was being chased, he also took to his heels thus causing a laughable scene. It all turned out to be a good source of entertainment for onlookers that day.

Alhaji Yusif, however, had to return to continue with the prayers when he felt he could not catch up with his friend who was obviously more athletic. When contacted, Alhaji Yusif, who is the Brong-Ahafo Regional organiser of supporters of Accra Hearts of Oak supporters union, Chapter 42, denied that he abandoned his prayers. “I had already finished praying and I saw nothing wrong in chasing him for my money,” he stressed. He said Mickey was fond of drinking Malt without paying on the spot.